Willis outlines his plans in Utica district

Don't expect major changes when James Willis takes over as the Utica schools superintendent Jan. 1, 2009.

REBECCA CRONISER

Don't expect major changes when James Willis takes over as the Utica schools superintendent Jan. 1, 2009.

But there will some alterations during the transition of leadership from current Superintendent Marilyn Skermont.

“The first six months I will be the caretaker of Ms. Skermont's plans,” he said.

Willis, 59, said he has 30-, 60- and 90-day plans for when he takes over the position.

His plans and priorities seem to mesh with the leaders of the school board. The board unanimously appointed him Tuesday night as the district's next leader.

“He has a vision,” board Vice President Louis LaPolla said.

The plans

* In the first 30 days, Willis will sit down with groups he calls the stakeholders - teachers, students, community groups, unions and staff.

“I want to talk to them during this transition,” Willis said. “I made promises during my interviews that I would be very accessible.”

He said he also will form a student group that he will have meetings with on a regular basis.
Students and staff also can expect to often see Willis in the schools. He said as an assistant superintendent at South Country Central School District in Long Island, he visits the campuses every week.

“I plan to go into the schools unannounced just to kind of get a feel for what is going on in the classrooms,” Willis said. “People get very nervous initially when you do that, but then they get used to it.”

* Willis said the next 30-day period will be evaluating what he sees and learns during his first month.

“We'll do some small tweaking, but I'm not going to do major changes,” he said.

* The third 30-day period will be evaluating the direction of the district and making sure he and the district are headed down the same course, he said.

His course will focus on improving academics.

“I want to focus on education and increase those graduation rates,” Willis said.

The district's graduation rate is about 77 percent while the state's average is about 57 percent, Willis said.

Within five years, he wants the district number to be in the 90s.
LaPolla said he would like Willis to ensure “the highest quality education at the lowest possible cost.”

School Board President Barbara Klein said she agrees with Willis' plan to focus on test scores and graduation rates, as well as the capital project and media relations.

When it comes to the $187.6 million capital project the Utica district passed this summer, Willis admits he has some catching up to do.

He sat in on Tuesday's school board meeting and got a “preliminary run down” of the project.
While he said he can look online at the schedule and plans, he said he will need to have briefings on where the project is and a firm schedule.

Community participation

Willis said he and his wife, Lynda, a retired school cafeteria worker, want to take pride in being part of the Utica community and not just work in it.

He said he plans to get involved in the Mohawk Valley Chamber of Commerce and local Rotary club.

He said he already has found an apartment in Utica, and he and his wife are looking forward to moving to the area.

He said he will spend the next six months looking for a house to buy, but will probably keep his Elmira house where his wife lives part-time.

“I'm an upstate person,” the Cortland native said.

Willis, a former Marine, said he also is an avid runner. Twice he has run for 1,000 straight days. He said he is now on day 125 and already is planning his running route in Utica.